Effect of continuous exenatide infusion on cardiac function and peri-operative glucose control in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

We performed a randomized controlled trial with the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist exenatide as add-on to standard peri-operative insulin therapy in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. The aims of the study were to intensify peri-operative glucose control while minimizing the risk of hypoglycaemia and to evaluate the suggested cardioprotective effects of GLP-1-based treatments. A total of 38 patients with decreased left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction ≤50%) scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomized to receive either exenatide or placebo in a continuous 72-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion on top of standard peri-operative insulin therapy. While no significant difference in postoperative echocardiographic variables was found between the groups, participants receiving exenatide showed improved peri-operative glucose control as compared with the placebo group (average glycaemia 6.4 ± 0.5 vs 7.3 ± 0.8 mmol/L; P < .001; percentage of time in target range of 4.5-6.5 mmol/L 54.8% ± 14.5% vs 38.6% ± 14.4%; P = .001; percentage of time above target range 39.7% ± 13.9% vs 52.8% ± 15.2%; P = .009) without an increased risk of hypoglycaemia (glycaemia <3.3 mmol/L: 0.10 ± 0.32 vs 0.21 ± 0.42 episodes per participant; P = .586). Continuous administration of i.v. exenatide in patients undergoing elective CABG could provide a safe option for intensifying the peri-operative glucose management of such patients.

Postoperative outcome in awake, on-pump, cardiac surgery patients.

PURPOSE: Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) alone or combined with general anesthesia (TEA-GA) has been assumed to improve early postoperative outcome in cardiac surgery. The aim of our study was to investigate data of early and late postoperative outcome results of awake TEA patients undergoing cardiac surgery with comparison to patients under combined and general anesthesia (GA). METHODS: Forty-seven patients undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery were assigned to receive either epidural (group TEA, n = 17), combined (group TEA-GA, n = 15), or general (group GA, n = 15) anesthesia. Early and late postoperative outcome data, including hospital and 3-year mortality rates, were recorded and compared among the study groups. RESULTS: There was no major difference in early or late postoperative outcome data across all study groups, except for lower incidence of atrial fibrillation in the TEA group compared with the GA group (23.5% vs. 66.7%, respectively, P < 0.05). Also, TEA and TEA-GA groups compared with the GA group had lower pain visual analogue scale scores at 24 h postoperatively (4 ± 7, 6 ± 7, 14.7 ± 11, respectively, P < 0.05) and morphine requirements during the first 24 h after surgery (30 ± 6, 30 ± 6, 250 ± 140 µg/kg, respectively, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our data, all three anesthetic methods were equivalent in terms of major determinants of postoperative outcome, except for lower incidence of atrial fibrillation in awake patients compared with patients under general anesthesia. Methods using postoperative epidural analgesia provided superior pain relief.

Interventional treatment of pain in refractory angina. A review.

BACKGROUND: Refractory angina is characterized by repeated attacks of chest pain in patients on maximal anti-anginal pharmacotherapy, with a professional conscensus that further surgical or radiological revascularization would be futile. Refractory angina is a serious but relatively uncommon health problem, with a reported incidence of approximately 30 patients per million people/year. In this condition simply treating the associated pain alone is important as this can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. METHODS: An extensive literature search using five different medical databases was performed and from this, eighty-three papers were considered appropriate to include within this review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Available literature highlights several methods of interventional pain treatment, including spinal cord stimulation and video-assisted upper thoracic sympathectomy which can provide good analgesia whilst improving physical activities and quality of life. The positive effect of spinal cord stimulation on the intensity of pain and quality of life has been confirmed in nine randomized controlled trials. Other potential treatment methods include stellate ganglion blocks, insertion of thoracic epidural or spinal catheters and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. These approaches however appear more useful for diagnostic purposes and perhaps as short-term treatment measures.

Oxygenation, ventilation, and airway management in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a review.

Recently published evidence has challenged some protocols related to oxygenation, ventilation, and airway management for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Interrupting chest compressions to attempt airway intervention in the early stages of OHCA in adults may worsen patient outcomes. The change of BLS algorithms from ABC to CAB was recommended by the AHA in 2010. Passive insufflation of oxygen into a patent airway may provide oxygenation in the early stages of cardiac arrest. Various alternatives to tracheal intubation or bag-mask ventilation have been trialled for prehospital airway management. Simple methods of airway management are associated with similar outcomes as tracheal intubation in patients with OHCA. The insertion of a laryngeal mask airway is probably associated with worse neurologically intact survival rates in comparison with other methods of airway management. Hyperoxemia following OHCA may have a deleterious effect on the neurological recovery of patients. Extracorporeal oxygenation techniques have been utilized by specialized centers, though their use in OHCA remains controversial. Chest hyperinflation and positive airway pressure may have a negative impact on hemodynamics during resuscitation and should be avoided. Dyscarbia in the postresuscitation period is relatively common, mainly in association with therapeutic hypothermia, and may worsen neurological outcome.

Standard blood flow rates of cardiopulmonary bypass are adequate in awake on-pump cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Standard blood flow rates for cardiopulmonary bypass have been assumed to be the same for awake cardiac surgery with thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) as for general anesthesia. However, compared with general anesthesia, awake cardiac surgery with epidural anesthesia may be associated with higher oxygen consumption and may result in lactic acidosis when standard blood flow rates were used. The aim of our study was to investigate if standard blood flow rates are adequate in awake cardiac surgery. METHODS: Forty-five patients undergoing elective on-pump cardiac surgery were assigned to receive either epidural (Group TEA, n=15), combined (Group TEA-GA, n=15) or general (Group GA, n=15) anesthesia. To monitor the adequacy of standard blood flow rates, arterial lactate, acid base parameters, and central venous and jugular bulb saturation were measured at six time points (before, during, and after the surgery) in all groups. Blood flow rates were adjusted when needed. RESULTS: No lactic acidosis has developed in any group (p=NS). TEA as compared with TEA-GA and GA groups had lower central venous (67±4%, 75±11%, and 72±13%, respectively, p<0.05) and jugular bulb oxygen saturations during cardiopulmonary bypass (60±7%, 68±9%, and 75±12%, respectively, p<0.05) during the post-cardiopulmonary bypass period. The TEA group as compared with the TEA-GA and GA groups also had mild hypercapnic respiratory acidosis (56±10, 42±8, and 37±4 mmHg, respectively, p<0.05) and mild decrease of arterial oxygen saturation (93±4%, 97±2%, and 96±1%, respectively, p<0.05) at the end of surgery without any clinical consequences. Thus, no additional blood flow rates adjustments in any study group and no ventilatory support in TEA group were required. CONCLUSIONS: Under careful monitoring, the use of standard blood flow rates is adequate for patients undergoing awake on-pump normothermic cardiac surgery.

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy--its effect in the treatment of refractory angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE: To document an improvement in the quality of life in a group of patients with refractory angina and videothoracoscopic sympathectomy (VTSY) during the early postoperative period and a six-month follow-up. METHODS: Ten patients with angina CCS IV refractory to a conventional therapy underwent VTSY between the years 1998 and 2002 at our institution. All patients underwent a complex preoperative evaluation, including pain assessment using a visual analog scale (VAS). Proximal thoracic sympathetic blockage was performed in all patients as a diagnostic test. The resection of bilateral Th2-Th4 ganglions was performed under general anesthesia and selective lung ventilation. All patients were monitored 6 months after the VTSY. RESULTS: No deaths occurred in our group of patients, with an average hospital stay of 4.1 days. Nine of the ten operated patients referred an important subjective relief of pain. There was a drop from 10 to 4 according to VAS (P<0.05), and from 4 to 2.4 according to CCS (P<0.05). Decreases in basal heart rate, norepinephrine level, and an occurrence of ventricular premature beats reached the level of statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing number of patients with refractory angina prompted a search for an effective and safe therapy to improve the quality of their life. New evidence in the pathophysiology of an ischemic myocardium and investigation of the impact of thoracic sympathectomy suggests sympathetic denervation seems to be a possible alternative method for the treatment of refractory angina pectoris.